(ThyBlackMan.com) The first and most important hurdle that a business must overcome is customer awareness. It doesn’t matter what goods or services you offer if no one knows that you offer them. Consequently, a startup needs to conduct a publicity blitz as soon as possible to get its name out there and start bringing in customers.
Techniques for this differ as widely as the businesses that use them, but there are some characteristics that every debut campaign has in common.
Your Name In Lights
It doesn’t literally have to be in lights, but your name absolutely must be visible in as many ways as possible. That’s why your presence at an event is so much more impactful if you’ve bought 
custom pop up tents to direct your name 360 degrees from your booth. Not only will it draw people in, it can also help reinforce your name with those who’ve already visited. They can walk a few yards down the row at an event, then look back at your display and still read your name.
Tailor your name promotion to the type of environment where you are. The tent can work inside or out, but other material choices will hinge largely on the event. Don’t bring lots of handouts if people will already have their hands full, for example.
Showing Yourself To The Right Market
Remember that the word “marketing” is all about the market, about trying to get the right sets of eyes and ears directed toward your message. If you have a new line of spices for grilling hamburgers, go to a street fair. If you have a fitness product, visit a charity run. Make sure that you’re spending your advertising dollars in a targeted way that has a better chance to pay off.
This goes for promotional items too. Those spices will sell better if you hand out free measuring spoons with your brand’s name on them. Your exercise equipment will promote nicely on sweatbands. You get the idea. Put your name out there in a way that will find your customer’s eyes when they are most likely to have a need for your product.
Be Distinctive
Your business has to stand out to be memorable. Every business has done something to make itself look different. There might be a celebrity endorsement, a catchy (or even controversial) name or slogan, or an unusually loud color, font, or logo.
Imagine that you’re launching your new line of fitness apparel at a health fair. You have to think about what you can do to stand out from countless other (established) manufacturers. Maybe you can put an outfit on a mannequin that’s situated in an impossible position, demonstrating the flexibility of your garments. Maybe a human model would be able to wander through the event, logos clearly in place.
The idea is that you need to stand out from the crowd, especially as a new business fighting for its place in a busy market. Your colors, displays, and actions will do that for you.
Running a startup is tough. It takes a lot of motivation, organization, and planning. You need every opportunity you can get to push your business forward and make it successful. The launch of your business can give you that head start that helps you build and sustain momentum over the long haul.
Staff Writer; Ronald Day
